legend

Everyday

1. A legend is an old, famous story from the past that may be partly true but cannot be proved, like the stories of King Arthur or Robin Hood. tree →
2. A legend is a very famous person who is admired for what they did («a football legend»). tree →
3. The legend of a map or chart is the key that explains what its symbols and colours mean. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons legends are a story genre, like myths and fables; legends are usually about humans and places, while myths are about gods. In geography and maths the legend (key) of a map or graph tells you how to read it. In everyday speech «You're a legend!» means «you're great». Phrases: «according to legend», «a living legend», «map legend».

Examples

• According to legend, Robin Hood lived in Sherwood Forest. tree →
• We read the legend of King Arthur and the sword in the stone. tree →
• Check the legend to see what the blue lines on the map mean. tree →
• That player is a legend at our club. tree →
• The legend of the Loch Ness Monster brings many tourists to Scotland. tree →
• Thanks for helping, you're a legend! tree →
• The legend of the bar chart shows red for boys and blue for girls. tree →
• Every town seems to have a legend about a ghost. tree →

Note

Countable: «a legend». Adjective «legendary» (very famous, or from legend). Trap: a legend is not the same as a myth (gods, explaining nature) or a fable (animals, with a moral), though people often mix them. In maths and geography, always read the legend or key before reading values from a chart.

In Jewish tradition

In English lessons legends are a story genre, like myths and fables; legends are usually about humans and places, while myths are about gods. In geography and maths the legend (key) of a map or graph tells you how to read it. In everyday speech «You're a legend!» means «you're great». Phrases: «according to legend», «a living legend», «map legend».

Examples

• There are also legends that Jeremiah and his grandson Ben Sira studied together the Sefer Yetzirah. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Countable: «a legend». Adjective «legendary» (very famous, or from legend). Trap: a legend is not the same as a myth (gods, explaining nature) or a fable (animals, with a moral), though people often mix them. In maths and geography, always read the legend or key before reading values from a chart.